Catholic couple getting married in United Church?

Question

I have an important question please. Both my fiancee and I are Roman Catholic although we are not practising our faith the way we should like going to church on Sundays. However, we do believe in God of course.

We are trying to get married in a United Church instead of a Catholic Church because it is much simpler and closer to our hearts.

I have 2 questions. Can we get married in an United Church? If yes, what are the things we would have to do in order to be eligiable?
(for example with Catholic Church we'd have to take counseling, attend on Sundays etc.)
Thank you kindly!

Answer 1

It's probably not that big of a deal. You will need to contact the pastor at the specific church where you wish to be married, and he/she will be able to tell you what their particular requirements are. The requirements may vary slightly from church to church, but they probably include a couple of meetings with the pastor.

I work at Presbyterian church and we have lots of weddings there --- most of them are couples who are not members of the church. It's not an issue.

Answer 2

Do you mean UCC? I think you'd have to ask the pastoral staff at that church. Some churches are more disposed to accommodate their facities and services to non-members than others. If you are expecting the Catholic church to recognize it as a Catholic marriage, you'll need an official representative of the Catholic church as a witness.

But it depends on what you're trying to do. If you have no further interest in Catholicism, no big deal. If you're trying to be "Catholic" without making the effort, ask yourself why you care. For that matter, your lack of interest in pre-marital counselling suggests you don't really want to put that much interest in being married either. Engaged couples who don't want to look at the difficult issues of married life are much more likely to break up when the issues do come up.

Maybe the real question is, why do you want to bother getting married at all? The thrill? The presents? Certainly not the commitment.

Answer 3

Don't knock it 'till you try it.

Attending "Pre Cana", as it is popularly called, is not a big deal. Truly, if you and your's love each other enough to get married, it makes ABSOLUTELY no sense not to "bother" with a simple pre-Cana session.

Different parishes do Pre-Cana differently. Some have a long drawn out program while others do the whole thing over a single weekend. You might look to different Catholic parishes and hopefully find a program that better fits you lifestyle.

It's troubling to think Pre Cana is too much for you and your's. I mean, if you two are not willing to "tolerate" a simple marriage-prep program, it's doubtful you can can hang in there for a lifetime of marriage.

Sometimes what's "easier" is not always what's "better". Look to doing the better things, not merely the easiest ones.

Answer 4

You are not Catholic, based on your own description of yourself.

I would suggest individually taking that counseling to examine your true Faith. May God bless you.